Automatic brake releasing apparatus



W. H. CALLENDER ET AL AUTOMATIC BRAKE RELEASING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 8, 1949 Dec. 5, 1950 JNVENTORS WILLIAM H. CALLEIVDER 8 GE/VOI/E'RO S. GESENA AGF/ Patented Dec. 5, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC BRAKE RELEASING APPARATUS William H. Callender and Genovero S. Cesena, San Diego, Calif.

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to an automatic brake releasing apparatus, more particularly for use in connection with the emergency brake of motor vehicles, and the objects of our invention are:

First, to provide an automatic brake releasing apparatus of this class which releases the emergency brake of a motor vehicle preliminary to the movement of the vehicle after the hand brake has been set;

Second, to provide a brake releasing apparatus of this class which prevents burning of the conventional emergency brake lining, due to inad vertent movement of the motor vehicle with the emergency brake set;

Third, to provide an automatic brake releasing apparatus of this class having a throttle pedal switch in series with the engine ignition switch of a motor vehicle, which automatically energizes a solenoid for releasing the hand brake of the vehicle when the throttle pedal is pressed subsequent to the closing of the ignition switch;

Fourth, to provide an automatic brake releasing apparatus of this class in which the solenoid releasing means is de-energized when the hand brake is released, so that the circuit to the solenoid cannot be closed until the hand brake is again set;

Fifth, to provide an automatic brake releasing device of this class which requires no conscious effort on the part of the automobile operator in the releasing of the hand brake of the vehicle; and

Sixth, to provide an automatic brake releasing apparatus of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, efiucient in operation, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, our invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particulariy set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of our automatic brake releasing apparatus, showing parts and portions thereof in elevation to facilitate the illustration, and showing portions broken away to amplify the illustration; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical wiring of our automatic brake releasing apparatus.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The casing i, handle 2, cable 3, brush contact i, solenoid 5, latch plunger 5, springs l, 8 and 9, and the switches Iii, H and I2, constitute the principal parts and portions of our automatic brase releasing apparatus.

The casing l is.a hollow cylindrical member which is fixed stationarily to the structure of the motor vehicle chassis, and is provided with an enlarged bore portion la and a reduced bore portion lb, which are concentric with each other. Reciprocally mounted in the enlarged bore la is the plunger portion 2a of the handle 2, integral with which is the ratchet portion 2b, which is provided with key portions 2c on opposite sides thereof, slidably engaged in slots Id in the inner side wall of the casing l, as shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Fixed to the ratchet portion 2b of the handle 2 by means of the set screws Ed is the insulation section 3a of the cable 3, all as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Near the end 53a of the cable 3, said cable 3 is provided with an annular elongated groove 32), in which the electrical insulation sleeve 3c is fitted, all as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The cable 3 extends to the conventional emergency brake band mechanism, which is no part of my present invention and which is not shown in the drawings. Communicating with the bore Eb of the casing I, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is a transverse opening ie, through which the casing to; of the brush contact 4 extends. This brush contact 4 in the casing 4a is provided with a spring 7, adapted to force the brush contact ll into engagement with the cable ti or the insulation shield 30, whichever is adjacent thereto. Electrically connected with the brush contact 3 is a conductor ib, which extends to the solenoid 5 and is arranged in electrical connection therewith.

The solenoid 5 is provided with a latch plunger t, having a beveled buttress end portion ta, engageahle with the beveled buttress ratchet teeth 2c of the ratchet portion 217 of the handie 2. This ratchet plunger 6a extends through an opening I f in the side wall of the casing I. The opposite end of the solenoid winding from the conductor to is provided with a conductor to, as shown best in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. Surrounding the plunger portion 2a of the handle 2 is a spring 8, which engages the ratchet portion 2b of the handle 2 at its one end and the casing cap lg at its opposite end, tending to force the handle 2 inwardly of the casing l.

The spring 9 engages the latch plunger 6 at its shoulder portion tb, tending to force the same downwardly into engagement with the ratchet teeth 26 of the ratchet portion 2b of the handle The switch is is positioned in the extremity or" the handle 2, and this switch it is provided with a l ver Eda pivoted on a pin llib in the downwardly curved portion in of the handle 2. This lever lt a is provided with a spring ['30, tending to hold the contact bridge ltd of the switch ll] away from the contacts ice thereof, as shown in 3 of the drawings. Thus, the switch It is a normally open switch. The switch H is a conventional automobile engine ignition switch, while the switch 52 is operated by pressure of a persons foot on the conventional engine throttie. This switch 52 is provided with a pair of contacts lid on the conventional throttle pedal, engageable by a bridge l2b connected to the auxiliary pedal lilo, which is pivoted in spaced relation to the conventional throttle pedal l2d, all as shown best in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The spring l2e tends to maintain the pedal [20 in spaced relationship with the pedal l2d, holding the bridge lib in spaced relationship with the contacts l2a, maintaining a normal open condition of the switch [2.

The operation of our automatic brake releasing apparatus is substantially as follows: The handle 2, is in released position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and when the emergency brake is set the handle 2 is extended from the casing l, whereupon the brush contact #1 is engaged by conduction portion of the cable 3 beyond the insulation sleeve 30, supplying a ground connection to the solenoid 5, and the spring 9 maintains the latch plunger 6 in engagement with the ratchet teeth 2e, preventing inadvertent retraction of the plunger portion 2a of the handle 2 by means of the spring 8.

When the automobile engine is started and the ignition switch ll remains closed, either of the switches it or E2 in series with the switch ll may be used to operate the solenoid 5 for retracting the plunger and permitting the spring 8 to force the handle 2 inwardly for releasing the emergency brake. In the event the operator forgets to close the switch 58, the brake is automatically released by pressure of the foot on the throttle pedal I20, which causes the bridge l2b to close the contacts 52a against compression of the sprin 22c. When the switch i2 has been closed, the solenoid is energized, causing retraction of the plunger b, permitting the spring 8 to retract the plunger portion 2a of the handle 2, and extend the cable 3, whereupon the brake is released and the insulation sleeve 30 shuts off the ground connection or ground current supply to the solenoid 5, whereupon continued pressure of the throttle pedal l2c against the throttle pedal lZd does not aifect the solenoid 5 or energize the same. The solenoid 5 is therefore inert until such time as the emergency brake is again set and either the switch it or the switch i2 i closed for releasing the emergency brake. It will be noted that the buttress ratchet teeth 2e and the end 3a of the ratchet plunger 6 permit the handle 2 to be readily extended from the casing l manually against compression of the spring 9, which maintains the ratchet plunger 6 in engagement with the teeth 2e at all times, except during energization of the solenoid 5.

Though we have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, we do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of our invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a brake releasing apparatus, an emergency brake plunger handle having an electrical conducting portion grounded to a vehicle chassis, a solenoid stationarily mounted relative to said plunger handle and having a movable member axially angular to the axis of said plunger handle, and engageable therewith for maintainin said plunger handle in certain position longitudinally of its axis, and electrical switch means for energizing said solenoid and retracting said movable member, a spring for retracting said plunger handle and releasing the emergency brake connected therewith, insulation contact means in connection with said plunger handle, a brush contact stationarily mounted relative to said plunger handle, engageable by said insulation contact means when said plunger handle is in released position, said brush contact means electrically connected with said solenoid for supplying ground current connection therefor when said brush contacts said electrical conducting portion grounded to said vehicle chassis.

2. In a brake releasing apparatus for use in a motor vehicle having a throttle pedal, an emergency brake plunger handle having an electrical conducting portion grounded to a vehicle chassis, a solenoid stationarily mounted relative to said plunger handle and having a movable member axially angular to the axis of said plunger handle, and engageable therewith for maintaining said plunger handle in certain position longitudinally of its axis, and electrical switch means for energizing said solenoid and retracting said movable member, a spring for retracting said plunger handle and releasing the emergency brake connected therewith, insulation contact means in connection with said plunger handle, a brush contact stationarily mounted relative to said plunger handle, engageable by said insulation contact means when said plunger handle is in released position, said brush contact means electrically connected with said solenoid for supplying ground current connection therefor when said brush contacts said electrical conducting portion grounded to said vehicle chassis, and switch means in circuit with said brush contact for controlling said solenoid, said switch means being on the engine throttle pedal of the motor vehicle to which said plunger handle is connected, whereby operation of the throttle automatically closes said switch and energizes said solenoid which releases said plunger handle and the emergency brake connected therewith.

3. In a brake releasing apparatus for use in a motor vehicle having a throttle pedal and conventional ignition switch, an emergency brake plunger handle having an electrical conducting portion grounded to a vehicle chassis, a solenoid stationarily mounted relative to said plunger handle and having a movable member axially angular to the axis of said plunger handle, and engageable therewith for maintaining said plunger handle in certain position longitudinally of its axis, and electrical switch means for energizing said solenoid and retracting said movable memher, a spring for retracting said plunger handle and releasing the emergency brake connected therewith, insulation contact means in connection with said plunger handle, a brush contact stationarily mounted relative to said plunger handle, engageable by said insulation contact means when said plunger handle is in released position, said brush contact means electrically connected with said solenoid for supplying ground current connection therefor when said brush contacts said electrical conducting portion grounded to said vehicle chassis, and switch means in circuit with said brush contact for controlling said solenoid, said switch means being on the engine throttle pedal of the motor vehicle to which said plunger handle is connected, whereby operation of the throttle automatically closes said switch and energizes said solenoid which releases said plunger handle and the emergency brake connected therewith, said switch in series with the ignition switch of the motor vehicle.

4. In a brake releasing apparatus for use in a motor vehicle having a throttle pedal and conventional ignition switch, an emergency brake plunger handle having an electrical conducting portion grounded to a vehicle chassis, asolenoid stationarily mounted relative to said plunger handle and having a movable member axially angular to the axis of said plunger handle, and engageable therewith for maintaining said plunger handle in certain position longitudinally of its axis, and electrical switch means for energizing said solenoid and retracting said movable member, a spring for retracting said plunger handle and releasing the emergency brake connected therewith, insulation contact means in connection with said plunger handle, a brush contact stationarily mounted relative to said plunger handle, engageable by said insulation contact means when said plunger handle is in released position, said brush contact means electrically connected with said solenoid for supplying ground current connection therefor when said brush contacts said electrical conducting portion grounded to said vehicle chassis, and switch means in circuit with said brush contact for controlling said solenoid, said switch means being on the engine throttle pedal of the motor vehicle to which said plunger handle is connected, whereby operation of the throttle automatically closes said switch and energizes said solenoid which releases said plunger handle and the emergency brake connected therewith, said switch in series with the ignition switch of the motor vehicle, a second switch in connection with said plunger handle in series with the conventional ignition switch of the motor vehicle engine, and connected with said solenoid.

WILLIAM H. CALLENDER. GENOVERO S. CESENA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,972,300 Hemingway Sept. 24, 1934 2,010,628 Duecy Aug. 6, 1935 2,140,780 Wimmer Dec. 30, 1938 2,411,632 Moran Nov. 26, 1946 

